The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-22
THE BIG MENAGERIE FIRE.
DETAILS OF THE BURNING OF BAR
NUNS GREAT SHOW.
The Heartrendlng Shrieks Of the Poor
Animals that Were Being cremated
The Escaped Lion Captured and
the Elephants Corralled.

--Ine Escaped Lion SuPbuToo ohu
the Elephants Corralled.
New HAVEN, Conn, Nov. 2l.-The ami
mails quarters of Barnums circus, at
Bridgeport Conn, were burned TO the
ground last night. One Of the watchmen,
George N. Meyers, was making his rounds
about 10 o'clock, when he discovered
flames in one corner Of the building where
the horses arc kept He rushed around
the building 10 alarm other employees,
when he was knocked senseless by some
one with club. He lay on the ground
unconscious for twenty minutes, and
when he revived half Of tire building WIS
in flames. lie awakened sleepers in the
building, and some ono rushed 10 an
alarm box half mile away and pulled it,
neglecting TO sound the alarm from n box
located ut the entrance TO the grounds.
This caused delay Of half IN hour in the
arrival Of the fire department. When il
did come II could do nothing beyond saw
ing the adjacent buildings from being
destroyed. In the meantime twenty
eight elephants were turned loose.
Sampson and Alice and a white elephant
were destroyed. The other elephants
rushed about the city, and one fell on a
man, breaking three OF his ribs and one
leg The old lion, which IL often seen on
the top OF the chariot in street pro-
cessions, was hauled ont of the flames
by his keeper, VIM. Bulkoly. As soon ms
lac was ont OF the building the crowd at
tempted 10 kill him by beating his head
with clubs and firing shots into him with
a revolver. lie WAS secured and placed in
pen, but broke out and, scaling u ten
foot fence, took refuge in barn, where he
| killed hog. lie was shot while making n
breakfast oil fresh meat. Eight men, who
were sleeping in the building barely es-
capped with their lives, and one, who was
sick, was dragged OF his bed and out into
the mir. At ~ o'clock most Of the elephants
! had been corrnllcd. The rhinoecros WIS
got out Of the building, but was burned
aud cut both by getting out OF the cage and
| by the crowd, which, seemed possessed TO
kill all the animals coming out OF the
building Only the cat animals were
burned. The monkeys and Others wern in
other buildings. Many OF the idols which
are exhibited with the show were burned.
The cries of'ihe burning animals were
| hrarinnding. Through the flames could
be seen the tigers, loOparls and other eat
animals dashing irantically about then
cages and finally succumbng Ia the smoke
aud flame. The elephants rushed madly
about the streets, lashing their burned aud
| Torn sides with their trunks aud scattering
! the crowds in all directions. II
is reported that several men were picked
| up and thrown over fences and more on
/ less injured. The birds were all ia New
| York CITY, at Central park In the paint
shop were many Of the handSomc ohEiOis,
undergoing repairs. These Wcrr wheeled
out as fast ~ possible, but not without IN.
Jury. At o'clock what had. Two huurs
before, been the homo of some of the won.
dcrs OF the earth, lay heap Of shoulder.
ing ruins, from which assembled the odor
Of burning flesh. The iron cages, twisted
IN all WAYS and still incandtsccni, stood
ont prominently among the ruins against
ihr dark background 81 the night beyond.
Among the animals destroyed wrrc iouF
clcphantS Eve lions, eryeDl lcuplrl-, 10
plnthcrs. four kangiroos, six horses and =
large number Of smaller beasts. Among
the elephants burned were Alice, Sampson
aud the sacred white elephant Ono oi
the large elephants escaped, and this
morning was lOund drowned m the sound,
near the light house, where II had gone.
| in iiH fright. Aside from this, the only
| animal that escaped beyond the grounds
| was large lion, which wandered into
| Christopher Richards ham-ynrd, where II
attacked COW and cali. making an cnrlj
brrakiast oi the latter. Mrs. lickurds mi
deriook Ia drive the beast away. not know
inr or realizing the nature 81 the beast nm
til warned by q ncighbor, when she beat
hnsy retreat. Tho animal WIS shot sooI
after by one OF the circus employees.
Otto Mnhhc, On elephant trainer, by
his heroic efforts saved eighteen elephants
MIR bailey said this morning that 5000
wonld probably cover tho loss The los
animals aud AL the parphcnalia dc
Ftruycd would be- replaced as soon as pos
sihlc. and last nights fire would not inter
icrc with next SEASONS show. Tho insur
ancc. plnccd through Staples n Co., ON th
building aud property burned N w follows
Building, SIi2j; animals, $4,000. Oi th
latter amount, 500 wss on ;hc ELEPHANT
burned und S2.2iD on the hippopoiamus
The building will be- rebuilt ~ spon ~ pos
dblc. Beside the above property DC
strlycd wCV two oi the largest churiOif
known ~ the Neptune aud the grccl
iahlrauN ear.
The origin Of the Gre "a stu q mystery
but the general opinion among thns
} prominently connected with the wiutg
, quarters Is that u was the work Of an Ia
crndiary
Gcorgc Meyers. ono Of the waichmcr
. and one 81 the trt To discover the fir
started 10 enter the building aud va
I knocked down hy an unknown man. VIII
struck him two blows on the head with
blunt instrument lie lay unconscious
short time. and when he came "a "a
, building WIS In flames. short billy
/ was found near the place this morning
, The tire started in tho stable.
LA.cr.ri-, curd Mr. Christian Icllc. ,
, Carondolel, No, Of a iorty-thpcycar ulcc